Power-lift mechanism for plows



May 1, 1923. 1,453,537 H. E. ALTGELT POWER LIFT MECILNISM FOR FLOWS Filed April 5 1919 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1, 1923.

E. ALTGELT POWER LIFT MEC HANISM FOR FLOWS;

5 Sheets-Sheef, 2

Filed A ril 5 1919 May 1,1923? r 1,453,537

H. E. ALTGELT POWER LIFT MECHANISM FOR FLOWS same. t This invention relates to improvements n invention consists in certain novel features of construction and comblnatlons of parts.

Patented ay l, 1923..

HERMAN E. ALTGE 'T, or NEwBRAUNFELsrExAs, as'srenon '10 oLIvEa GRILLED PLOW WORKS, or sourn BEND, INDIANA POWER-LIFT MECHANISM FOR PLOWS.

Application filed April 5,

v To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN-E. ALTGEL'I, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Braunfels, in'the county of Comal and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power- Lift Mechanism for Flows; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the plows and more particularly to power lift mechanism therefor,-one object of the i111 \ention being to provide means whereby a maximum amount of leverage is had and in which the lifting operation may extend throughout approximately three-fourths of a rotation of the carrying wheel from which the power is transmitted. v

A further object is to: so construct power lift mechanism for an agricultural implement that the frame thereof carrying the earth-working parts, will always be raised to the same height regardless of the depth of penetration of the earth-working means when the lifting member is turned in one direction and so that said lifting member may make as much as approximately three quarters of a complete rotation when said lifting member turns in the reverse direction during the lowering of the frame.

A further object is to so construct power lift mechanism that both the lifting and lowering of the plow structureshall be accomplished during the forward-movement of the plow, but so that the lifting devices shall move alternately in opposite directions during the raising and lowering movements, respectively, of Said plow structure.

A further object is to construct a power lift mechanism and connect the same with the plow structure in such manner, that a single piece crank-axle may be employed and its cranked portion located between the plow frame and one of the carrying wheels j inwardly from the lift-operating mechanism actuated by said carrying wheel A further object is to so construct wheeloperated power lift mechanism for-aplow, that the same shall move alternately in op nosite direction during the raising and be accurate-and effectual inoperation.

1919. Serial No. 287,756.

ated power lift mechanism fox-plows which shall be simple in construction; comprise a minimum number of parts and which shall With these and other'objects inview, the

as hereinafter set 10 In the accbmpanying. drawings Figure 1 isa side elevation of a plow showing the application of my improvements, with the parts in working positions; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the plow parts in raised position; Figure '3 is a plan view; Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views showing the positions of parts of the'lifting mechanism when the plow is at work; Figure 6 is a view of the wheel box and its perforated flange; Figures-7, 8 and 9 are detail Views '10 is a sectional view showingthe means for coupling the lifting disk with a carrying of the devices for coupling the lifting disk wheel and uncoupling the same therefrom; Figure 11 is. a view partly in section and partly broken away, showing the positions of the parts at the beginning of the lifting operation; Figure 12 is a similar View showing the positions of the parts when the plow shall have been lifted, and Figures'13 and 14 are detail'views showing the cam. mem-* bers which control the coupling and uncoupling of the. lifting disk relatively to the carrying v wheel 1 represents a plow frame which may comprise in the structure illustrated, two beams 2,3 suitably spaced apart and braced, and to each of these beams; a plow base 4 is secured.

Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the forward end of the plow frame with draft means, such as a tractor (not shown). The horizontal member of a single-piece crank axle 5 is mounted transversely on the plow frame and the spindle i i and this housing diskhaving a peripheral flange 11, the latter .provided at its portion 6 at the free end of the crank of said axle is mounted inthe hub of a carrying wheel 7. Another crank axle mounted on the plow frame has its spindle portion mounted in the hub of a carrying wheel 9. A housing 10 is rigidly securedto the axle approximately at the juncture of the spindle .portion with the crank arm thereof,- may comprise a circular" being notched, as at 12, for a purpose hereinafter explained. of axle 5 passes through the housing and through a wheel box 13 secured within the hub of the wheel 7 ,-said wheel box being f inner end with an annular flange 14 'having a plurality of holes 15 for a u ose hereinafter explained.

I igid with the inner facezof the housing 10 and concentric with the holetherein through which the axle spindle passes, 15 a hub 16 having an annular series of spiral grooves 17 andfencircling'this hub is a ring 18 having therein an annular series of spiral ribs 19 to enter the spiral grooves of the hub 16. The spiral grooves and ribs form cams I between the housing 10 and the ring 18, so

" rings 18 and 23,

.ends so that when that whenthe ring is turned,- it will be caused also to move in a. direction parallel with its axis. A rod 19*"is pivotally connected withthe 'ring18 and is movably connected withv the housing 10. spring 20 encircles the rod 19 and has bearings at its respective the ring 18 is turned, it, will be retained, by the action of said'spring, in the position to which it may be moved.

I have referred to the spiral grboves and ribs of the hub 16 and ring 18, as forming cams between the housing and ring, but it will be apparent that the construction is such that, in the embodiment of. the invention shown in ,the .jdrawin'g. the connection between the ring 18 and the housing is, in effect, a screw threaded connection.

The ring 18 is made interiorly with a groove 21, in which an annular flange 22 on a ring 23 isrotatively mounted, said ring 18 being also made with a cut-away portion 24 to permit the assembling'of said rings.

dle portion 6 of the axle 5 and is disposed in close proximity to; the housing 10, said disk having a recessed enlargement 26 and a hub 27 the latter serving as a mounting for the disk upon the axle spindle. When the parts are assembled, the hub'27 enters the and the latter are adapted, during 'the operation of the mechanism. to enlargement 26 of the disk.

plurality of holes 28 (four such .holes being shown in the drawing) through which, pins 23 on the ring 23 -pass, said pins being also adapted to be'caused to pass through the holes 15 in the flange 14 of the wheel box The spindle portion 6" downwardly 25 (between said disk. and the wheel 7) and i is curved forwardly under the central recessed enlargement 26 of said disk, its lower end'being pivotally attached to said disk at a point whichis. located forwardly of the axis of the axle spindle and the disk when the plow is in'working position, asfshown in Figure 1. i

A control .lever' 30 is pivotally mounted on the housing" 10 and passes through the notched portion 12 thereof. The short arm of'this lever enters the housing and has provided thereto, a gravity dog-31 having a tongue 32 and also a tooth 33, the latter being intended to engage a ri or shoulder 34 on the periphery of the ring18. "The control. lever is maintained. normally in andreturned to normal position by the action of and at the other end to the housing 10. To

the free end 'of'the control lever. an operat- "ing' cord 36 is attached. The disk 25 is provided with an inwardlyprojecting lug 37 adapted to cooperate with the rib or shoulder 34 on the ring 18, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

When the plow is in working position, the parts will assume the positions shown in "Figure 1, with the connection of the lifting arm to the disk 23 (which may betermed the lifting disk) located approximately in front of the axis of said disk when the plow 'is set for deep plowing.

Let it be "now assumed that it is desired to raise the plow. The operator will pull the. cord 36 to move the control lever forwardly. This will cause the dog 31 to move .rearwardly and, by engagement with the rib or shoulder '34. cause the ring '18 to be turned." As the ring 18 is thus turned. its

, cam or screw connection with the hub 16 ofv A disk 25 is mounted loosely on the spinthe housing 10, will cause said ring 18 to 115 move outwardly, carrying the ring 23 with it and causing the pins 23 to enter thev holes 15- in the flange of the wheel-box 13. The rings 18 and 23 will be held in'thesepositions by the action of the spring 20. The lifting disk 25 'will now be in locked con nection with the wheel box and therefore withthe wheel 7 and as the plow moves forwardly, thedisk 25 will rotate with the wheel 7 and motion will be imparted through the lifting arm 29 to the plow frame to raise the plows. During such raising operation. the pivotal connection of the lifting arm with the lifting disk will move from the position shown in Figure'l to the position Ill)- shown in Figure 2 and thus the lifting action will extend throughout approximately tlmelefourths of a rotation of the disk 25 a d the wheel 7, thereby enhancing the efficiency 5 of the lifting mechanism to raise the plow to its full height during a long continued andgradual application of power derived from the carrying wheel. During the rais-= ing of the plow, the cranks of the axles will move from the positions shown in Figure l to the positions shown inFigure 2 and as the pivotal connection of the lifting arm with the lifting disk approaches a position slightly past va dead center over and with relation to the axis of said disk, .the lug t 37 on the disk 25 will engage the-tongue 32 of dog 31, raise the latter and engage the rib or shoulder 34 on the ring 18, thus causing the latter to be turned (overcoming the re- ,20 sista'nce of the sprin and causing said ring" to move inward y by the action of the cam or screw connection with the housing and the pins 32 on the ring 23 to be withdrawn from engagement with the wheel box.

25 The plow will now be held in its raised position (as shown in Figure 2) and the carryin wheel 7 will be free to rotate on the ax e spindle. To lower the plow, the operator will again move the control lever for wardly. Such operation of the control lever willcause the dog 31 to engage the lug 37 on the disk and turn said disk sufliciently to move the pivotal connection of the lift-Y such long-continued application of power is made possible by reason of the fact that the lifting disk never makes a complete rotation in the same direction but turns alternately in opposite directions during the raising and character described, the combination with a frame, an axle-and a carrying wheel, 0f an lowering operations respectively.

An arm 38 maybe secured to axle 5 and carries a pivoted sleeve 39 in which a shaft 40 is mounted. This shaft ma beprovided at one end with a crank 41 an its other end 5 portion is threaded and passes through an internally threaded sleeve 42 pivotally supported by an arm 43 secured tothe furrow wheel axle 8. By means of these devices,-the plow maybe leveled and they also serve to transmit movement fromthe' axle .5 to'the axle 8 during the raising and lowering op-' era'tions; Various changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention with- 6 out departing from the spirit thereof or lime iting its scope and hence I do not wish to restrict myself to the precise details herein set forth. 1 a

Having fully described 'my invention what I claim as new anddeSire to secure by Lettors-Patent, is

1. In an agricultural implement in which the earth workingmeans are raised by power and lowered by gravit the combination with a frame, earth worl ing means, a wheel and an axle, of an oscillatory lifting member, means for connecting said lifting mem her with the wheel, and a lifting arm rigid from end to end and'pivotally connected at its respective ends to said oscillatory memher and with the frame, whereby said lifting member may make as much as app-roximately three quarters of a complete rotation when said lifting member turns in one di rection or the other in effecting the raising of the plowor in permitting it tolower.

2. In an agricultural implement in which the earth working means 'are'traised by power and lowered by gravity, the combination with a frame, an axle, and a carrying wheel, of an oscillatory lifting member loose on the axle, a, rigid-lifting arm pivoted to the frame andpivoted', directly to said oscillatory lifting member whereby the plow may be raised during approximately three-fourths of a rotation of said lifting member, and means for connecting said'lifting member with the carrying wheel so that it will turn with the latter..

3. Inan agricultural implement in which the, earth working means are raised by power and lowered by gravity, the combination with a frame, an axle and a carrying wheel, of an oscillatory lifting member loose 7 on the axle, means for locking said oscillatory lifting member to thecarrying wheel, and a lifting arm pivotally connected with the frame and having a part rigid with its .lower end portion pivotally connected di-* rectly with the lifting member, such pivotal connection being in advance of the axis of said lifting member when the implement is in working position. j

4. In an agricultural implement of the -5. In an agricultural implement of the character described, the combination with a frame and a carrying wheel, of a one-piece crankaxle having a spindle portion mounted in the hub of said carrying wheel, a lifting member loose on the spindle portion of said axle, means for locking said lifting member lifting arm having a forwardl extending portion rigid with its lower en and pivotally connected directly -with' said lifting member. 3 a

62 In an agricultural implement in-which the earth working means are raised by power and lowered by gravity, the combinationwith a frame, an axle and a earryingwheel,

of a lifting member loose on the axle, means. for locking said lifting member'to the-carrying wheel, and'a' ri'id liftin arm connected with the plow rame an extending outside of said lifting member,-said lifting arm having a' forwardly curved lower end portion pivotal-1y connected directlyw'ith thelifting member in advance of the axis of said member, whereby the plow frame raised during approximately a three-quarters rotation of said lifting vmemben ja'nd the carrying wheel.

7 In an agricultural implement in which the earth working means are raised by power and lowered by gravity, the combination with a frame, an axle and a carrying wheel, of a lifting-[disk loose on the axle, means for locking said disk to the carrying wheel, a shaft mounted "on the plow frame, and a rigid lifting arm depending from one end of said shaft and pivotally connected directly with thelifting disk in advance of the'plane of the axis of said disk.

8. In an agricultural implement in which, the earth working means are raised by power and lowered by gravity, the combinationwith' a frame, an axle and a carrying wheel, of a disk mounted loosely on the axle,

a rigid lifting arm pivotally connected with the frameand having a direct pivotal connection with said disk, and means whereby said-disk may be turned more than a half rotation in one direction during the lifting wheel, an arm connected with said disk] and'with the frame, whereby the latter will be raised when said disk is turned in one direction until, the connection of said arm center relatively to the axis of the disk, and

- means whereby the disk is disconnected from the carrying wheel when the frame reaches its raised position, .a portion of said means being operable to move the disk past said dead center position and permit the frame'to 'drop by gravity and efi'ect reverse movement of said disk andliftingarm. v

10. The combination with a frame of an agricultural implement, an axle and a: car- 'with the disk approximately passes a dead rying wheel, of a disk loose on the axle,'.

means for locking said disk' to the carrying wheel, an arm connected with said disk and with the frame whereby the latter will be raised when the disk is turned in one-direction until theconnection, of said arm with, the disk -approximately passes a dead centerrelatively to the axis of the disk, and means whereby the disk is disconnected from the" carrying .wheel when the 'frame reaches its raised position, a portion of saidmeans being operable to move the disk past said dead centerposition and permit the frame to drop by avity and effect reverse movement of said disk and lifting arm.

In testimony whereof, I have signedthis specification in the presence of two subscribin'g witnesses. I HERMAN E. ALTGELT.

Witnesses 2 AnoL'r STEIN, ALB, NOWOTNY. 

